and Community Council Public Meeting: 19:00, Tuesday 25 Sept Seil Island Community Hall

Minutes of last meeting

Present: Seumas Anderson (chair), Sue Vest (minutes), Mike Shaw, John Gordon, Robert Rae, Chris Dugdale, Ann Marie Robin, Sylvia Jost (Carr Gomm), Shaun Davidson (A&B Council), Margaret Burnett (A&B Council), Cclr Duncan MacIntyre, Cclr Elaine Robertson, Dr George Hannah and 7 members of the public

Apologies

Charles Struthers; Martin Waddell; Alan MacFadyen; Const Jeremy Moore; Cclr Iain MacDonald; Cclr Louise Glenn Lee

Proposed by Henry Tarbert . Seconded by Stuart Reid

Matters arising

Homecare provision

Shaun Davidson, Sylvia Jost and Margaret Burnett attended to discuss changes to Homecare provision and the outsourcing which will occur on 21 January 2012. Concerns have been raised by members of the community receiving care.

Argyll and Bute Council have retained , and Mull as ‘special cases’ and questions were asked as to why Seil and Easdale could not be considered similarly.

Shaun Davidson explained the process of externalisation which has taken approximately 4 years. Following consultation, there were recommendations that some parts of the service should be outsourced. It was acknowledged that the majority of meetings to discuss this were in and not in these outlying areas.

Under the new system, Carr Gomm will get the majority of existing clients and 60% of new business. Mears will get 25% and Hazelhead the remainder. Within Seil and Easdale this currently equates to 99 hours per week of care time. In order to ensure providers have viable numbers of clients within an area, there will be a geographic split. Carr Gomm will be the provider for the SECC area. The contracts agreed are for 3 years with the option of a 4 th year being added at the end of the first year. After this, it will be under annual review. Carr Gomm are contractually obliged to fulfil their contract and cannot withdraw if they are not making a profit.

Mr. Davidson assured the public that robust quality assurance system have been devised with facilities for clients and associates (friends / relatives / AHPs ) to raise concerns with the A&B Homecare team and spot checks to monitor ongoing quality. The Council also reserves the right to impose a moratorium on allocation of care hours should standards not be met, at which point the other providers would be asked to fill any shortfall.

Cclr. Robertson explained that the Council had been experiencing increasing difficulty in providing a homecare service due to staff shortages, changing demographics and rising costs, noting that Council care costs were higher than those of the private sector. Whilst acknowledging that this was a new way of working and that changes would be unsettling to some members of the community, she was positive about the robust nature of the system. She commended the existing home carers and explained that some of the delays in implementation were due to ensuring that these staff were able to take advantage of various employment options. Cclr. Robertson assured the public that all those affected would have meetings with their care coordinators to ensure that plans are up to date and that there would be a thorough handover to the new providers.

Seumas Anderson questioned whether the lower wages being offered to carers would lead to reduced standards of care and asked what contingencies were in place should a large number of carers chose to leave due to this reduced pay. Mr Davidson said that in term of care quality, all providers had to state their training programme. The question of zero hour contracts was discussed. Sylvia Jost confirmed that Carr Gomm would not be providing such contracts but that terms would be based on the average hours worked over the previous 3 months. Seumas Anderson asked whether there was room within the budget to attract highly skilled carers to which Mrs Jost responded that at present Carr Gomm were recruiting to their current terms and conditions and would aim to maintain this.

Avril Anderson asked how, if the Council were struggling to recruit carers, Carr Gomm would succeed on a lower rate of pay. Mr Davidson explained that in the 'worst case scenario', other providers would be called in but agreed that this would have an impact on continuity.

The issue of Easdale was raised with the challenge of linking homecare will ferry provision. Sylvia Jost explained that Carr Gomm would have individualised plans to account for these and other emergency situations.

Dr. Hannah said he had be assured that there would be a seamless transition and questioned why the staff were being required to fulfil the same role on significantly less pay. He also asked why if Colonsay was deemed a special case, could Seil not have been viewed in the same way. This was taking into account the lack of younger people taking up the carer role and the local demographics. Seil has 30% more over 65s than in as a whole and the primary school (which can reflect the number of younger people within the community) is declining in numbers. He raised concern that individuals may be admitted to hospital for safety rather than medical need.

Cclr. MacIntyre explained that within as a whole the population is aging. This will lead to increasing difficulties in getting carers which is already being experienced and he suggested that there needed to be more attempts to encourage people into this area of work. He also highlighted the current move to integrate care and hospital provision and raised concerns that budgets would be under increasing strain.

Sue Vest asked whether increasing remuneration to carers should be seen as an investment as having good quality care staff and consistency could lead to improved welfare with early signs of deterioration being spotted thus reducing the need for hospitalisation. Mr Davidson responded that after the tenders went out it was up to providers to decide how they pay staff. Jenny Tarbert asked how companies could tender if they did not know the needs of the clients they would be caring for. Mrs Jost clarified that they know the outline of the care requirements but that details are not disclosed much in advance of care being put in place due to the likelihood of changes and to maintain confidentiality.

Shaun Davidson explained that although the 21 st January is the publicised changeover date, there is a 3 month lead in period during which Carr Gomm will work with Argyll & Bute Council to resolve remaining issues. This will include additional clarity on extreme situations such as weather and roads issues.

Dr. Hannah asked how the money currently allocated to the nurses on Seil to manage to Homecare staff would now be used. Mr. Davidson confirmed that the financial contribution to the nurses from his budget will remain for input into additional district nursing services. Seumas Anderson asked whether this would ultimately be used to pick up the slack caused by a shortfall in homecare provision.

Seumas Anderson asked for clarification of the safeguard processes. Margaret Burnett said that the homecare organisation would be required to aim to sort things out first and would then go to herself and a commissioning team. She said that Carr Gomm have been in contact with district nurses and would be arranging a monthly meeting to ensure communication is maintained and that concerns were raised timeously.

It was asked whether there was any possibility, after the end of the contract whether the provision could be taken back in house. Shaun Davidson said that this was unlikely and made an offer to return to future meetings to discuss ongoing provision.

Seumas Anderson concluded that a large number of members of the public still had doubts and that more information was needed.

Easdale Evacuation

SECC have written to Mike MacKenzie regarding medical evacuation from Easdale Island and have been assured in a response that this will be raised with relevant politicians. Carol Keeley is due to visit the area to ensure she is fully aware of situation.

Scottish Water

At Pumping Station 3 there was an agreement, with planning permission, for variable height spaced boards. Environmental Health are now requesting joined boards of equal height on the grounds of noise. Cclr. MacIntyre agreed that there should have been inclusion of environmental matters at the time of planning rather than at a later stage. Mike Shaw raised concerns that the planners have done little to mitigate in the situation and have not supported the community in improving the visual appearance of the pumping station. He asked why, if the reduction of noise is important, they were willing in initial stages to have no fence at all. It was agreed that Environmental Health should have been more actively involved from the early stages of the process. Charles is in ongoing discussions with Scottish Water and there are concerns that community opinion being overridden.

The footpath and kissing gate between the cemeteries has been installed. Concerns have been raised about the size but this may be to allow for wheelchair access.

Landscaping is now complete at the Pumping Station by the shop but the agreed notice board is still to go up. SECC will continue to pursue this.

The removal of the orange fence opposite Tigh Cladich will take place once the verge is more stable with plastic bollards pending due to be put up in its place.

Charles has received no new complaints for past few months and thus assumes that other public concerns are now dealt with. He continues to pursue outstanding issues such as the connection at Boatyard and the screening of the shower unit.

Roads

Charles has had a drive round with Cclr. Glenn-Lee and Jim Smith (Argyll & Bute Council). There is a recognition that Cnoc a’ Challtuinn needs resurfacing. The group looked at the provision for buses at Atlantic Bridge. Seumas has spoken with Lars Brunner and Rory Young regarding providing some further land to allow buses to park without affecting visibility. It is understood that planners have reservations about extending the passing area.

Parking at Cuan was raised with Cclr. Glenn-Lee and Jim Smith following concerns raised by residents that they are having to pay for taking their cars on the ferry due to a lack of space. Land ownership is being investigated and Cclr. MacIntyre said that this linked in with the Ferries Review

Argyll & Bute Council continue to be actively involved in knotweed remediation. Scottish Water have been asked to liaise with the Roads Authority to deal with outbreaks. Private land owners have responsibility to treat outbreaks on their own land.

Water is lying on various parts of road. There has been sagging follow Scottish Water work and the installation on utilities at the new house at Whinbank. At Sea View the drain is blocked.

There has been no recent movement at Kilninver Bridge but Community Councils affected continue to push for a complete contingency plan and a permanent solution. Cclr. MacIntyre agreed that a plan was needed in the event of failure or a need to weight restrictions on the bridge and said he would continue to press for this.

It was understood from an exchange of emails that the Ingles had been issued with an enforcement notice to repair the hole in the sea wall at . It was clarified at the meeting that the letter which was to be issued earlier in the month has not been sent. Cclr. MacIntyre agreed to follow this up on the request of SECC. Mike Shaw clarified that although the Kilbrandon Trust were interested in purchasing the land, they were requesting sight of the content of any enforcement notice and the quality of the repair was important in terms of conservation status. It was agreed that all facts were needed before further progress be made.

Proposed 30mph speed limits at the Clachan end of Seil of will go ahead. The advisory 40mph speed limit at Kilmore will become an enforced limit.

Purchase of land

Seumas is now a director of the Kilbrandon Trust. The Sea Wall remains a concern as noted above and there is the possibility that following the outcome of Ferries Review, the Council will need land for fixed link to Easdale. Ground owned by BP and Shell is believed also to be available for purchase (price unknown). The Ingles appear reluctant to move further until more commitment from SECC / Kilbrandon Trust

Police Report

Const. Jeremy Moore gave his apologies but sent a report that the Easdale Stone Skimming attracted more members of public than usual due to recent press coverage. This lead to issues with parking and access with Const Moore taking action unfortunately having to turn some people away. Communication will be made with organisers regarding increased marshalling of future events.

Planning

Current / Relevant Applications:

Ref. No: 12/01920/PP Erection of wooden fence, extension of existing retaining wall and erection of interpretation/information board. Pumping Station Number 5 Land At Junction Between B844 And Balvicar Road Balvicar Isle Of Seil . Received: Thu 06 Sep 2012. Validated: Mon 10 Sep 2012. Status: Pending Consideration

Ref. No: 12/01876/PP Erection of dwellinghouse and detached domestic garage/workshop. Land West Of Dunearn House Ellenabeich Isle Of Seil Argyll And Bute. Received: Wed 29 Aug 2012. Validated: Tue 11 Sep 2012. Status: Pending Consideration

Ref. No: 12/01630/PP Erection of two dwellinghouses. Land At Barnafeochaig Beag Clachan Seil Isle Of Seil Oban Argyll And Bute PA34 4TJ. Received: Fri 27 Jul 2012. Validated: Mon 10 Sep 2012. Status: Pending Consideration

Ref. No: 12/01299/PP Re-roofing of agricultural shed (retrospective). Balvicar Farm Balvicar Isle Of Seil Oban Argyll And Bute PA34 4TE. Received: Mon 11 Jun 2012. Validated: Wed 22 Aug 2012. Status: Application Permitted

For further details of planning applications, see http://publicaccess.argyll- bute.gov.uk/publicaccess/

Clachan Wind Farm

The Clachan Wind Farm application went to determination on 19 th September. It was decided that there will be a public hearing, probably at the end of October. It was clarified that although none of the local Councillors representing Seil are on the planning committee and thus will not be able to vote on the outcome, they are able to speak on the day.

AoB

There was a request that the completion of the cemetery pathway be included in the next Seilachan.

Documents to be Tabled - none

Date and time of next meeting

Tuesday 27 th November, 19:00, venue TBC – Easdale Hall (weather permitting – Seil Hall if ferry not running)